The federal government announced, on Wednesday (23), the suspension of all technical cooperation agreements that allow civil society organizations to cover, from retirees and pensioners, associative tuition discounted directly from the benefits paid by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).
The measure was announced a few hours after the Federal Police (PF) and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) triggered the call Operation without discountwhich deepens investigations into an alleged “national scheme of unauthorized associative monthly discounts”.
Under the operation, the Federal Justice determined the precautionary removal of the president of the INSSAlessandro Stefanutto, and five other public servants investigated. It also authorized the PF to comply with 211 search and seizure court orders, six temporary arrests. In addition, it determined the kidnapping of goods in the amount of more than R $ 1 billion and the suspension of discounts charged by nine of the 11 associative entities that are the target of the operation.
“In addition to the court decision, which suspended discounts for nine of these entities, we are suspending the technical cooperation agreements of all other associative organizations,” said CGU minister Vinicius de Carvalho, during a press conference, in which the Ministers of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, and Social Security, Carlos Lupi, and PF Director Andrei Rodrigues were also attended.
According to the minister, about 3 million INSS beneficiaries have some amount discounted monthly from their retirements or pensions as an associative discount. The suspension of agreements and, consequently, the deductions of any value, will serve as a “brake of storage” in the partnership system between the INSS and the civil society organizations.
“No one wants to prevent people from associating freely as long as they show interest in doing so,” said Carvalho. “[A suspensão] It is an administrative measure to analyze these processes as a whole. And thus ensure the hygidity and integrity of the process going forward […] It is important that all people who happen to have this discount, know exactly why this happens. And especially that they have manifested [concordância] with discounts. ”
Historic
After stating that, more than an action to combat corruption and fraud, the operation without discount is an initiative in defense of retirees and pensioners from all over the country, Carvalho explained that,, In 2023, the CGU began to ascertain “the increase in the number of discounted entities and values”.
“It is very important to highlight that these discounts do not start in 2023, but back there. And they come in a growing, over the years. From 2023, however, when we took over the government, and CGU technicians identified an increase in these discounts and complaints from retirees and pensioners, we begin this investigation,” said the minister.
The Minister of the Comptroller General of the Union, Vinicius de Carvalho, during an interview on the Operation without Discount Photo: Antonio Cruz/Agência Brasil
From then on, CGU technicians conducted audits at 29 entities that had technical cooperation agreements (ACTs) with the INSS. In addition, they interviewed 1,300 retirees who had payroll discounts.
“More than 90% of these interviewees did not recognize having authorized these discounts. Many, even, only learned [da ilegalidade] Discount during the interview – either they were unaware of the discount or thought it was mandatory, ”Carvalho added.
CGU technicians concluded that the 29 audited entities had no operational structure to provide services they claimed to offer beneficiaries as discounts on the acquisition of products and services, including health insurance or legal assistance agreements. They also identified that 70% of the 29 entities analyzed had not delivered the necessary documentation to justify the discount.
“I think around 40% of the entities [auditadas] did not deliver any documentation. About 30% delivered her incomplete and were still qualified to offer the service. As this kind of thing happened is the object of the investigation, ”said the minister, stressing that, only between 2019 and 2024, the entities charged retirees and pensioners around R $ 6.3 billion.
“But it would be hasty to say that all this amount is illegal; that 100% of retirees [que pagam o desconto associativo] They had their consent. Only in the sample that the CGU did, of 1,300 benefits, gave 97% [de fraudes]with people saying they are not in agreement, they do not know or have not authorized the discount, ”added Minister Vinicius de Carvalho.
Data from the INSS and CGU point out that, from 2016, the discounted amount of pensioners and retirees through associative discounts – authorized or not – grew year after year. In 2016, it was R $ 413 million; in 2017, R $ 460 million; in 2018, R $ 617 million; In 2019, R $ 604 million. By 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the value fell to $ 510 million. In 2021 were discounted R $ 536 million. In 2022, R $ 706 million. In 2023, R $ 1.2 billion. And last year, $ 2.8 billion.
Discounts
Associative monthly fee is a contribution that retired, pensioners or people of a particular professional category pay periodically to be part of a non -profit association, union or class entity that represents the interests of its members of the General Social Security Regime (RGPS).
Between January 2023 and May 2024, the INSS received 1 million complaints about improper discounts, motivating the cancellation of self -declared discounts as unauthorized. In addition, in March last year, the institute established new rules to regulate the associative discount.
Signed by Alessandro Stefanutto, Normative Instruction PRES/INSS No. 162 establishes the maximum percentage of the deduction and that the discount must be previously authorized by the retired or pensioner, who has to sign a term of adhesion.
The beneficiary who does not recognize the discount of the associative monthly payment may require the exclusion of the collection using the institute’s application, the website My INSS or the telephone center 135. It is also possible to order temporary blocking of the collection.
The retired or pensioner who has not authorized discounts may also request the reversal of amounts improperly charged. For this, he must contact the responsible entity who received the discounted amounts (whose phone is informed on the beneficiary’s paycheck). If you prefer, the interested party can also send e-mail For the e -mail address agreement.mensality@inss.gov.br, informing the incident.
*Matter expanded at 15:21.
